Biographies of the Global Forest Watch Canada Board and Staff
Alan Appleby lives in Campbellford, Ontario. He has a M.Sc. in aquatic ecology from the University of
Toronto, and is currently a partner in Trent Valley Consulting, focussing on natural resource and environmental planning,
and in assisting community based groups and First Nations in these areas. He was Conservation Director with the Canadian
Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) Saskatchewan Chapter from 2000 through 2006, and served as Saskatchewan Coordinator
for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Endangered Spaces Campaign from 1993 through 2000. Alan has been an active volunteer and
board member in many environmental groups including Global Forest Watch Canada (GFWC), Nature Saskatchewan, TREEmendous
Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Eco-Network. Prior to 1993 Alan held senior management positions in the Saskatchewan and
Ontario governments, working for over 20 years in provincial parks, land use planning, resource management, and
environmental assessment. [back to top]
Dirk Bryant works for the Nature Conservancy as Director of Conservation Programs with the New
York State Adirondack Chapter. Previous to this, he served as Co-Director of the World Resources
Institute's (WRI's) Forest Program. During his 12-year tenure at WRI, Dirk initiated the
Global Forest Watch network, which he directed from 1997-2003. He also led the first
map-based assessment of remaining intact forests and historic loss of forest cover (The Last Frontier
Forests: Ecosystems and Economies on the Edge, 1997) and of potential threats to the world's coral
reefs (Reefs at Risk: A Map-based Indicator of Threats to the World's Coral Reefs, 1998).
Dirk has a Masters degree in Environmental Management from Duke University, and served as a Peace Corps
fisheries volunteer (Senegal, 1984-6). After years of living in Washington DC, he moved to the
Adirondack Park in 2003 with his wife Kara, in order to have a family and dedicate more time to fly fishing,
hiking and skiing. [back to top]
Ryan Cheng began working in the forests as a tree planter and has continued doing forestry fieldwork for the
past several years. He participated in a CIDA internship with Global Forest Watch in Cameroon in 2006-2007
which involved assisting in updating datasets for that country's forestry atlas as well as developing the
local community GIS capacity. Prior to that he volunteered at an AIDS service organization through which
he spent some time in New Delhi as part of a work exchange program. Ryan graduated from the University of
Alberta in 2003 with a BSc in Environmental Earth Science. [back to top]
Ronnie Drever works as a Forest Ecologist with The Nature Conservancy's Canada Program. Ronnie
immigrated to Canada at a young age and spent his formative years in Toronto, ON. He studied Biology and
Geography at Queen's University, and later moved to Vancouver to complete a Master's in Resource and Environmental
Management at Simon Fraser University. After several years working as a biologist and researcher in various
parts of British Columbia, he moved to Montreal and in 2008 completed a Ph.D. in Biology at UQAM. Ronnie lives
in Wakefield, QC, with his wife, Meredith, and their two children. [back to top]
Tim Gray is the Program Director for the Ivey Foundation, a private environmental and arts granting
foundation in Toronto. Tim has a MSc. in Botany/Environmental Studies from the University of Toronto. Previous to
his work at the Ivey Foundation Tim worked for the national office of
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), both as Director of
Boreal Programs and as National Conservation Director. While serving in
these roles he developed and implemented cross-organizational
conservation campaigns and sat on the Boreal Leadership Council. Tim got
his start in conservation work as the executive director of
CPAWS-Wildlands League, where he served from 1990 until 2003. Other
current commitments include membership on the Ontario Provincial Forest
Policy Committee, and the Boards of Directors of the Wildlife
Conservation Society Canada and CPAWS. [back to top]
Jeannette Gysbers has a B.Sc. in Environmental Science (with an English minor) from Concordia University College
of Alberta. She started working for GFWC part-time in 2001, while she was still a student. She does much of the administration
for GFWC, maintains the website, and also contributes through project management, research, editing, layout/design, and GIS work.
Jeannette has also worked (as a summer student) and volunteered (as a board member, 2003-2009) for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (Northern Alberta chapter). In addition to being involved in conservation (and labour) organizations, Jeannette's activities and interests
include photography, belly-dancing, yoga, scuba, and, in general, spending time outside. Jeannette's involvement in GFWC will be scaled back
starting in the fall of 2009 when she welcomes a new member to her family. [back to top]
Matt Hanneman graduated from the University of Alberta in 2002 with a B.Sc. in Environmental Biology.
He worked in several field research positions from 1999 to 2005, which included surveying American Redstart
fecundity in fragmented landscapes, monitoring songbird and owl migration, and collecting inventory of colonial
nesting water birds' nest locations for Alberta's Northwest boreal region. In 2006 he obtained an advanced
degree in Geographic Information Systems from the Centre of Geographic Sciences, in Nova Scotia. He is also
a director of a non-profit organization committed to bird conservation: the Beaverhill Bird Observatory.
Matt lives in Edmonton, Alberta with his wife and two children. His favourite colour is green, he loves to eat
Jell-O Jigglers, and he enjoys long walks on the beach. [back to top]
Will Horter is the Executive Director of Dogwood Initiative -- an organization working to
implement sustainable land reform. Will received his law degree Summa Cum Laude from the University
of California, after completing a B.A from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire where he majored in
Anthropology and Third World studies. Prior being called to the BC Bar in 1995, Will worked extensively
as a community and labour organizer around the world. He also serves on the board of numerous international,
national and provincial non-profits. His passion is helping local people solve local problems. He lives in
Victoria, with his wife, daughter, incorrigible dog and two cats. [back to top]
Peter Lee (Executive Director of Global Forest Watch Canada) has an MSc in ecology. He has had a career
as a biologist and manager with the Alberta Government, a consultant for World Wildlife Fund Canada and instructor
at the University of Alberta. Peter serves (and has served) as a director for many environmental organizations.
When he's not working on (or reading about) conservation issues, Peter enjoys spending time with his family, especially
when it involves movies, good food, and/or travelling to new and exciting places. His dogs also appreciate
their daily walks with him in Edmonton's beautiful river valley.
[back to top]
Chris Miller Chris Miller is the National Manager for Wilderness Conservation and Climate Change for the
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. His research and conservation work focus on expanding the protected areas
system in Nova Scotia and improving forestry practices. Chris holds a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Waterloo,
and a combined Honours B.Sc. degree in biology and earth sciences from Dalhousie University. He led the successful
campaign to designate the public lands of Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes as a legally-protected wilderness area,
securing a vast track of wilderness only 10km from downtown Halifax. Chris has also championed the protection of many
other conservation sites in Nova Scotia and has helped advance progressive wetland, coastal, and climate change policies.
Chris is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University and a science advisor for the Nova
Scotia Crown Share Land Legacy Trust Fund and the Nova Scotia Nature Trust.
[back to top]
Aran O'Carroll is the National Manager of Forests Programs with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.
Most recently he was a Research Associate in the Department of Forest Resources Management in the Faculty of Forestry
at the University of British Columbia. He was formerly the executive director and general counsel of Forest Watch of
British Columbia, a non-profit public-interest forest monitoring organization. Aran trained as a staff lawyer and
director of the forest-monitoring program of the Sierra Legal Defence Fund, Canada's foremost public-interest
environmental law firm. Aran is a founding director and current chair of Global Forest Watch Canada, and a former
director of the Environmental Law Centre at the University of Victoria, Faculty of Law. Having recently moved from
Vancouver, British Columbia, Aran is happy to be back in the Ottawa Valley where he worked as whitewater paddling
instructor and rafting guide for many summers. [back to top]
Geoffrey Quaile Geoffrey Quaile has worked closely with the Grand Council of the Crees
(Eeyou Istchee) for the past 15 years. He is currently serving as a Senior Advisor on Natural Resource issues
for the Grand Council. This involves serving as a board member for the Crees on the Cree-Quebec Forestry Board
and participation in various cross governmental tables on mining, public land management and Cree-Quebec relations.
Prior to these duties, Geoffrey was intimately involved in the Grand Council's legal and public relations efforts
regarding forestry and hydroelectric development. Geoffrey's undergraduate (Trent) degree was in Environmental
and Natural Resource Studies and he holds an M.E.S. specializing in Communication from York University.
[back to top]
Wynet Smith is currently the McGrath Lecturer in Geography and a Fellow at St Catharine's College,
University of Cambridge, in Cambridge, England. Her Ph.D. dissertation focused on the regulation of timber
commodity chains in Cameroon, including an examination of how regulatory frameworks affect access to
resources and benefits in international timber commodity markets. She is a founding member of the
Global Forest Watch Canada board and has been involved with Global Forest Watch (GFW) since 1999.
While employed at the World Resources Institute (WRI) from 1999-2002, she worked with GFW on North
American forestry issues as well as doing research and policy analysis on international illegal logging
and trade issues. Previously, Wynet spent four and a half years in northern Canada working in the area
of natural resources planning and management with aboriginal and co-management organizations. She has
experience in environmental policy analysis as well as a technical background in remote sensing and
geographic information systems. [back to top]
Alan Appleby lives in Campbellford, Ontario. He has a M.Sc. in aquatic ecology from the University of
Toronto, and is currently a partner in Trent Valley Consulting, focussing on natural resource and environmental planning,
and in assisting community based groups and First Nations in these areas. He was Conservation Director with the Canadian
Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) Saskatchewan Chapter from 2000 through 2006, and served as Saskatchewan Coordinator
for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Endangered Spaces Campaign from 1993 through 2000. Alan has been an active volunteer and
board member in many environmental groups including Global Forest Watch Canada (GFWC), Nature Saskatchewan, TREEmendous
Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Eco-Network. Prior to 1993 Alan held senior management positions in the Saskatchewan and
Ontario governments, working for over 20 years in provincial parks, land use planning, resource management, and
environmental assessment. [
Dirk Bryant works for the Nature Conservancy as Director of Conservation Programs with the New
York State Adirondack Chapter. Previous to this, he served as Co-Director of the World Resources
Institute's (WRI's) Forest Program. During his 12-year tenure at WRI, Dirk initiated the
Global Forest Watch network, which he directed from 1997-2003. He also led the first
map-based assessment of remaining intact forests and historic loss of forest cover (The Last Frontier
Forests: Ecosystems and Economies on the Edge, 1997) and of potential threats to the world's coral
reefs (Reefs at Risk: A Map-based Indicator of Threats to the World's Coral Reefs, 1998).
Dirk has a Masters degree in Environmental Management from Duke University, and served as a Peace Corps
fisheries volunteer (Senegal, 1984-6). After years of living in Washington DC, he moved to the
Adirondack Park in 2003 with his wife Kara, in order to have a family and dedicate more time to fly fishing,
hiking and skiing. [
Ryan Cheng began working in the forests as a tree planter and has continued doing forestry fieldwork for the
past several years. He participated in a CIDA internship with Global Forest Watch in Cameroon in 2006-2007
which involved assisting in updating datasets for that country's forestry atlas as well as developing the
local community GIS capacity. Prior to that he volunteered at an AIDS service organization through which
he spent some time in New Delhi as part of a work exchange program. Ryan graduated from the University of
Alberta in 2003 with a BSc in Environmental Earth Science. [
Ronnie Drever works as a Forest Ecologist with The Nature Conservancy's Canada Program. Ronnie
immigrated to Canada at a young age and spent his formative years in Toronto, ON. He studied Biology and
Geography at Queen's University, and later moved to Vancouver to complete a Master's in Resource and Environmental
Management at Simon Fraser University. After several years working as a biologist and researcher in various
parts of British Columbia, he moved to Montreal and in 2008 completed a Ph.D. in Biology at UQAM. Ronnie lives
in Wakefield, QC, with his wife, Meredith, and their two children. [
Don Gordon [
Tim Gray is the Program Director for the Ivey Foundation, a private environmental and arts granting
foundation in Toronto. Tim has a MSc. in Botany/Environmental Studies from the University of Toronto. Previous to
his work at the Ivey Foundation Tim worked for the national office of
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), both as Director of
Boreal Programs and as National Conservation Director. While serving in
these roles he developed and implemented cross-organizational
conservation campaigns and sat on the Boreal Leadership Council. Tim got
his start in conservation work as the executive director of
CPAWS-Wildlands League, where he served from 1990 until 2003. Other
current commitments include membership on the Ontario Provincial Forest
Policy Committee, and the Boards of Directors of the Wildlife
Conservation Society Canada and CPAWS. [
Jeannette Gysbers has a B.Sc. in Environmental Science (with an English minor) from Concordia University College
of Alberta. She started working for GFWC part-time in 2001, while she was still a student. She does much of the administration
for GFWC, maintains the website, and also contributes through project management, research, editing, layout/design, and GIS work.
Jeannette has also worked (as a summer student) and volunteered (as a board member, 2003-2009) for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (Northern Alberta chapter). In addition to being involved in conservation (and labour) organizations, Jeannette's activities and interests
include photography, belly-dancing, yoga, scuba, and, in general, spending time outside. Jeannette's involvement in GFWC will be scaled back
starting in the fall of 2009 when she welcomes a new member to her family. [
Matt Hanneman graduated from the University of Alberta in 2002 with a B.Sc. in Environmental Biology.
He worked in several field research positions from 1999 to 2005, which included surveying American Redstart
fecundity in fragmented landscapes, monitoring songbird and owl migration, and collecting inventory of colonial
nesting water birds' nest locations for Alberta's Northwest boreal region. In 2006 he obtained an advanced
degree in Geographic Information Systems from the Centre of Geographic Sciences, in Nova Scotia. He is also
a director of a non-profit organization committed to bird conservation: the Beaverhill Bird Observatory.
Matt lives in Edmonton, Alberta with his wife and two children. His favourite colour is green, he loves to eat
Jell-O Jigglers, and he enjoys long walks on the beach. [
Will Horter is the Executive Director of Dogwood Initiative -- an organization working to
implement sustainable land reform. Will received his law degree Summa Cum Laude from the University
of California, after completing a B.A from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire where he majored in
Anthropology and Third World studies. Prior being called to the BC Bar in 1995, Will worked extensively
as a community and labour organizer around the world. He also serves on the board of numerous international,
national and provincial non-profits. His passion is helping local people solve local problems. He lives in
Victoria, with his wife, daughter, incorrigible dog and two cats. [
Peter Lee (Executive Director of Global Forest Watch Canada) has an MSc in ecology. He has had a career
as a biologist and manager with the Alberta Government, a consultant for World Wildlife Fund Canada and instructor
at the University of Alberta. Peter serves (and has served) as a director for many environmental organizations.
When he's not working on (or reading about) conservation issues, Peter enjoys spending time with his family, especially
when it involves movies, good food, and/or travelling to new and exciting places. His dogs also appreciate
their daily walks with him in Edmonton's beautiful river valley.
[
Chris Miller Chris Miller is the National Manager for Wilderness Conservation and Climate Change for the
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. His research and conservation work focus on expanding the protected areas
system in Nova Scotia and improving forestry practices. Chris holds a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Waterloo,
and a combined Honours B.Sc. degree in biology and earth sciences from Dalhousie University. He led the successful
campaign to designate the public lands of Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes as a legally-protected wilderness area,
securing a vast track of wilderness only 10km from downtown Halifax. Chris has also championed the protection of many
other conservation sites in Nova Scotia and has helped advance progressive wetland, coastal, and climate change policies.
Chris is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University and a science advisor for the Nova
Scotia Crown Share Land Legacy Trust Fund and the Nova Scotia Nature Trust.
[
Aran O'Carroll is the National Manager of Forests Programs with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.
Most recently he was a Research Associate in the Department of Forest Resources Management in the Faculty of Forestry
at the University of British Columbia. He was formerly the executive director and general counsel of Forest Watch of
British Columbia, a non-profit public-interest forest monitoring organization. Aran trained as a staff lawyer and
director of the forest-monitoring program of the Sierra Legal Defence Fund, Canada's foremost public-interest
environmental law firm. Aran is a founding director and current chair of Global Forest Watch Canada, and a former
director of the Environmental Law Centre at the University of Victoria, Faculty of Law. Having recently moved from
Vancouver, British Columbia, Aran is happy to be back in the Ottawa Valley where he worked as whitewater paddling
instructor and rafting guide for many summers. [
Geoffrey Quaile Geoffrey Quaile has worked closely with the Grand Council of the Crees
(Eeyou Istchee) for the past 15 years. He is currently serving as a Senior Advisor on Natural Resource issues
for the Grand Council. This involves serving as a board member for the Crees on the Cree-Quebec Forestry Board
and participation in various cross governmental tables on mining, public land management and Cree-Quebec relations.
Prior to these duties, Geoffrey was intimately involved in the Grand Council's legal and public relations efforts
regarding forestry and hydroelectric development. Geoffrey's undergraduate (Trent) degree was in Environmental
and Natural Resource Studies and he holds an M.E.S. specializing in Communication from York University.
[
Wynet Smith is currently the McGrath Lecturer in Geography and a Fellow at St Catharine's College,
University of Cambridge, in Cambridge, England. Her Ph.D. dissertation focused on the regulation of timber
commodity chains in Cameroon, including an examination of how regulatory frameworks affect access to
resources and benefits in international timber commodity markets. She is a founding member of the
Global Forest Watch Canada board and has been involved with Global Forest Watch (GFW) since 1999.
While employed at the World Resources Institute (WRI) from 1999-2002, she worked with GFW on North
American forestry issues as well as doing research and policy analysis on international illegal logging
and trade issues. Previously, Wynet spent four and a half years in northern Canada working in the area
of natural resources planning and management with aboriginal and co-management organizations. She has
experience in environmental policy analysis as well as a technical background in remote sensing and
geographic information systems. [